Key facts
- Domestic violence killings remain high across the US despite an overall drop in homicides.
- Chicago saw a 15% increase in domestic violence killings between 2024 and 2025.
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline received one million calls in 2025, up from nearly 637,000 in 2020.
- Proposed 2027 budget cuts could reduce funding for transitional housing and legal assistance by nearly $30 million.
- The White House referred questions about domestic violence homicides and budget impacts to the Office of Management and Budget.
Despite a national trend of declining homicide rates, domestic violence killings remain a persistent and alarming issue across the United States. Cities like Chicago and Kansas City, Missouri, have reported increases in domestic violence-related deaths even as overall homicides decrease. Ohio experienced its deadliest year for domestic violence killings in 2025, while national statistics show a rise in the proportion of violent crimes linked to domestic abuse, increasing from 25% in 2020 to 27.5% in 2024.
National non-profit organizations are witnessing a surge in calls from individuals at high risk of intimate partner violence, with housing and legal support being the most critical needs articulated. The National Domestic Violence Hotline alone answered one million calls in 2025, a significant increase from nearly 637,000 in 2020. Experts point to underfunding of prevention and response resources as a major obstacle.
Concerns about funding have intensified under the current administration. Early in President Trump's second term, grants to research institutions and non-profits serving vulnerable communities were cut, though some were later restored. However, proposed budget reductions for 2027 threaten to further decrease funding for transitional housing and legal assistance programs. Advocates emphasize that domestic violence is a complex issue that requires more than a criminal justice or immigration enforcement approach, stressing the need to focus on behavioral risk factors.
The White House has directed inquiries regarding domestic violence homicides and budget concerns to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not provide a response. Experts warn that high-profile cases represent only the visible tip of a widespread problem and advocate for greater education on early signs of abuse and healthy relationship skills.